"I don't know. I wish I did; I'd have him arrested for neglecting to
watch over this case. As it is, when he comes back I'll dismiss him from
my employment. He can go back to his infernal laundry work along with
his old witch of a mother."
"But why hasn't Bolton come back, sir?" asked Hope sharply.
Braddock struck a furious blow at the head of the chisel which he had
inserted into the case.
"I want to know that. He brought the case to the Sailor's Rest, and
should have come on with it this morning. Instead of doing so, he tells
the landlord--a most unreliable man--to send it on. And my precious
mummy--the mummy that has cost nine hundred pounds," cried Braddock,
working furiously, and battering the chisel as though it were Bolton's
head, "is left to be stolen by any scientific thief that comes along."
While the Professor, assisted by Cockatoo, loosened the lid of the
packing case, a mild voice was heard at the door. Lucy turned, as did
Archie, to see Widow Anne curtseying on the threshold of the door.
Braddock himself took no notice of her entrance, being occupied with his
task, and even while doing it swore scientifically under his breath.
He was furious against Bolton for neglect of duty, and Hope rather
sympathized with him. It was a serious matter to have left a valuable
object like the green mummy to the rough care of laborers.
"I beg your pardon, my lady," whimpered Widow Anne, who looked more lean
and rusty and dismal than ever; "but has my Sid come? I saw the cart and
the coffin. Where's my boy?"
"Coffin! coffin!" bellowed Braddock angrily between thunder blows. "What
do you mean by calling this case a coffin?"
"Well, it do hold one of them camphorated corps, sir," said Mrs. Bolton
with another curtsey. "My boy Sid told me as much, afore he went to them
furren parts."
"Have you seen him since he returned?" questioned Lucy, while Braddock
and Cockatoo strained at the lid, now nearly off.
"Why, I ain't set eyes on him," moaned the widow dismally, "and summat
tells me as I never will."
"Don't talk rubbish, woman," said Archie tartly, for he did not wish
Lucy to be upset again by this ancient ghoul.
"Woman indeed, sir. I'd have you know,--oh!" the widow jumped and
quavered as the lid of the packing case fell on the floor with a bang.
"Oh lor, sir, the start you did give me!"
But Braddock had no eyes for her, and no ears for anyone. He pulled
lustily at the straw packing, and soon the floor was littered with
rubbish. But no green case appeared, and no mummy. Suddenly Widow Anne
shrieked again.
"There's my Sid--dead--oh, my son, dead! dead!"